Suction cleaner



June 29, 1937. w. H. Km0 2,085,700

' sUCTIoN CLEANER Filed Sept. 25, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 *fllllzlllll/ INVENTOR Wiliam Hlla #1j/Q0 Fig 56 252mm ATTOBNEY June 29, 1937. w. H. KlTTo 2,085,700

SUCTION CLEANER vFiled Sept. 25, 1933 2 Sl'eets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR MM# WW ATTORNEY Patented June 29, 1931l "UNITED" STATES PATENT OFFICE I aosa'ioo sUcrroN cLEANEn william n. man. canton. ohio, signor to The Hoover Company, North Canton, Ohio, a .cor-

poration of Ohio Application september z's. 103s, semi Np.'s90,s01

1s claims. '(ci. 15 13) The present invention relates to suction cleaners in general and particularly to an improved rotary agitator constructionfor a suction cleaner'. `More speciiically the invention comprisesv a 'otar'y agitator fora suction'cleaner which is in eriorly connected with the external atmosphere and which is provided with automatic valves which direct cleaning air to the point ofl surface agitation at the time a positive beat- A 10 ing blow is delivered to the covering.

- specification andclaims, and upon considering in.

connection therewith the attached drawings to vention;

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new land improved suction cleaner agitator A further object is the provision, in a suction cleaner, .of a rotary agitator which is interiorly connected Ito atmosphere and which includes automatic valves for controlling the ilow of cleaning air into the nozzle. A Vfurther object is the provision in a suction'cleaner-of a rotary agitator which is interiorly connected to atmosphere and which includes a m vably mounted positive beating element whic air-,trom the agitator tothe point of contact with the covering. These. and other morespeciiic objects will appear from reading the following which they relate.

In the drawings in which preferred embodiments of the present inventionare disclosed:

Figure 1 is a'front view of a modernsuction cleaner showing `a section through the nozzle ih which an agitator constructed in accordance with the present invention is `embodied:

Figure 2 is a. side elevation of a rotaryragitator i constructed in'accordance withthe present in- Figure 3 is an end view of in Figure 2; Figure 4 is the top view of the end of the cleaner nozzle; f

Figure 5 is y a section upon the linei--B` vof Figure l; 'i

Figure `6 is a section throughthe agitator be-f ing taken upon the line 6 6 of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a view similar to .Figure 6 showing the beater element'in the displaced position fols lowing its impact with the surface covering undergoing cleaningyV I' Figurev is a section upon theline 8 8. of Figmeh u, f

Figure 9 is a section upon the-line 9-9 of Fig- Figure 10 is a section through a modiiication tion; Y

Figure is e.l section upon the line i5-|5 of 15 Figure 14;

changes its` .position at the time of limpact to the surface covering to permit the discharge .of cleaning.

, in a .suction cleaner.y This cleaner isseen to the agitator .shown I by the reference character. L3. This agitator comprises an elongated cylindrical body i4 which is of the agitator'in which a different type of spring I construction is used;` l

Figure 11 is a partial longitudinal section through a third preferred embodiment of the invention /which makes use of a diiferent type of 5 beating element:

Figure 12 isa section upon the line l2-fl2 ofi Figure 11; i

Figure 13 is a viewV similar to Figure 12 with the beating element in the displaced position following its impact with the surface covering;

Figure 14 is a view similarto Figure 11 through a fourth preferred embodiment `of the inven- Ii'igure 16 is a view similar to Figure 15 but with theagitating element in its displaced position following its impactwith the surface covering.

Maximum suction cleaner-efficiency is theo- 9,0

retically obtained when the point of agitation and the point of air cleaning eectiveness are made coincident. `In the agitator'constructed in accordance with thepresent invention this desired relationship is produced by a simple mechanism 4 which will be hereinafter fullyset forth.

Referring again to the drawings, and Figures 1 to 9 in-particular,A an agitator constructed in accordance with this invention/is shown embodied at each end therein by means of a plate I0,which is itself retained in a vertical channel l I by means of screws l'2, i2 is an agitator indicated generallyI provided substantially mid-way of its length with fa portion of reduced diameter I5 which functions as a pulley and seats the driving belt I6 which extends from the lower end of the motor shaft. The cylindrical body Il is rotatably mounted upon a bearing l1 at each of its ends by'a cupped end member I9, the ends of thelbearing-carrying shaft I8 being seated in the removable plates I0, lll. To remove the agitator-from the nozzle 55 the screws I2, I2 are removed thereby permitting the plates I0, I 0 to slide downwardly in their channels Il, II and the body I4 to pass between the lips 5 and 6.

At the ends of the shaft I3 non-rotating end members 20, 20 are provided which overlie the ends of the cylindrical body and the rotating end members I9, I3. Each end member 20 is formed with a circular channel 2| which cooperates with the radially spaced end flanges on the rotating end cup I9 to form a labyrinth to restrict the passage of air. Each end member 2U is provided with apertures 22, 22 which are alined with openings 23, 23 in the end wall of the nozzle. The rotatable end members I3 are similarly apertured so that the interior of the agitator body I4 is connected through the openings to the exterior at- I mosphere. vThe labyrinth formed by the end cup and tlie end plate function as above suggested, to prevent the passage of any appreciable amount of air from the. exterior atmosphere into the nozzle around the end of the agitator.

Agitator I3 is provided ,with a longitudinally extending re-entrant seat 24 in which is removably positioned a brush 25 of a well known type having bristles and a rigid back. To cooperate with the brushes 25, 25 in the removal of foreign matter from the surface covering undergoing cleaning rigid beating elements 26, 26 etc. are provided which extend a distance beyond the normal circumference of the agitator body which is substantially equal to the height of the brush bristles thereabove. In the modifications shown in Figures 1 to 10, inclusive, the agitating elements comprise pivoted rigid metallic members which are rounded at their surface-contacting portions. Each element 26 is pivoted upon a pin 21 carried by a frame 23 within the agitator body. A spring 29 is carried by each'frame 26 and contacts a portion of the beater element 26 within the agitator body and functions to retain normally the beater element at its maximum projection -beyond the periphery of the agitator body. A resilient cushion, or seal member,-30 overlies the edge of the beater element at its point of contact with the agitator body which functions to prevent chattering and similar noises in the operation of the beater elements and likewise provides an air seal.

In the Figures 1 to 9, inclusive, the spring 29 is shown as a leaf spring, while in Figure 10 the spring is of the coil type. n

In the operation of the invention, cleaning air is drawnl between the nozzle lips 5 and 6 by the suction-creating means. The surface covering is lifted upwardly into contact with the lips and` into contact with the rotating agitator. As Athe agitator rotates at high speed the beating elements 26 and the flexible brush 25 contact therewith. Thev brush performs its usual brushing' function. 'Ihe rigid beating elements 26, 26 contact the surfacefcovering and, because of their inertia, and thief-*strength of the holding springs f .air within the agitator is at substantially atmospheric pressure as theC interior thereof is connected to atmosphere, as described above. -Air continues to escape to the point of surface contact of the beater element 26 until rotation of the agitator carries that element past the surface covering, thereby permitting the spring 29 to pivot the agitator element outwardly and so close the opening. This functional cooperation results in maximum cleaning effectiveness as air is directed into the surface covering at the point at which the agitating element is beating and deflecting the pile thereof. The direction of agitator rotation is preferably as illustrated in Figure 6 with the blast of air directed largely from the trailing side of the beater element.

Referring now to Figures l1 to 13, inclusive, an agitator similar to that found in the first embodiment is disclosed. In this construction, however, a new type movably mounted rigid beater element is' provided. The agitator body I4 is provided with a rectangular opening 32, the metal of the body being extended inwardly at the opposite longitudinal ends thereof and a pin 33, which extends the lengthfof the slot, being carried thereby. Encirling each pin '33 is a cylindrical beater element 34 which is preferably formed with a metallic body for strength which is covered by a rubber covering or coating, both inside and outside, for the purpose of freducing noise. The exterior diameter of cylinder 34 is such that-it seats against the sides of the opening 32 when in its outermost radial position and closes that opening, as shown in Figure 12. As shown in Figure 13, when the beater element has been deflected inwardly under the reaction of the surface covering undergoing beating, the opening 32 is open at the sidesy thereof and air is permitted to escape to the point of, agitation, having entered the agitator through the end thereof, as in the first described embodiment.

In the rotation of the agitator centrifugal force 'holds the beater velements at their maximum radial position, shown in Figure 12, until they have been ,forced inwardly therefrom by the surface covering. contact, as illustrated in Figure 13.

Referring now to Figures 14 to 16, inclusive, a still further preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed in which the cylindrical beater elements 34 of the last described` embodiment havefbeen replaced by balls 35,35 etc/ Openings 36, 36 which are circular, are formed for the beater balls 35 and are of such size that the beaters cannot pass therethrough. The inward movement of each beater is restrained by an overlying cup seat 31 placed opposite the openings 36. Both the seats 31 and the sides of the openings 36 are covered with a resilient insulating material to deaden the-sound of the impact of the balls 35 thereagainst, and also to provide a better seal. In operation this embodiment is similar/to that last described, and cleaning air passes by a beating .ball when that member has been displaced radially inwardr in the agitator body by its contact with the surface covering.

I claim:

l. In a rotary agitator for a suction cleaner, a rotatable body, a beater element pivotally mounted within said body about an axis located forward of itself in the direction of rotation, said element being extended through said body to a, point radially therebeyond, resilient means urging said element radially outward, said element being adapted to move inwardly under a forceexerted by a surface covering undergoing cleaning.

2. In a suction cleaner, suction-producing means, a nozzle interiorly connected to said means, alv rotatable agitator in said nozzle includaosa'roo ing a body having an air passageway therein connected through said nozzle to atmosphere, a beater element movably mounted relative to said body and rotatable therewith, said body beingprovided with an opening connecting said air passageway to the interior of said nome, said beater element functioning to open and close said openingas it is moved inwardly under-the reaction of the surface covering `undergoing cleaning and as it isY l soiling to open and close said port. Y t

4. In a suction cleaner, ,suction-producing means, a vnozzle interiorly connected to Y said means, a rotatable agitator in said nozzleincluding a body having an air eway therein connected through said nozzle -to atmosphere, a port in said body connecting said air passageway to.. v the interior of said nozzle, valve means for said port, resilient means holding said means in portclosing position, said valve means adapted to contact `said surface covering and to be moved thereby to open said port.

5. In a suction cleaner, suction-producing means, a nozzle interiorly connected to said means, a rotatable agitator in said nomle including a body having an air eway therein connected through said nomlesto atmosphere, a port in said body connecting said air passageway to the interior of said nozzle, an agitating element positioned in saidY port and extended radially be.- yond said body and adapted to contact a surface covering undergoing'cleaning, said element being shaped to close said port in one position, means resistingly retaining said element in port-sealing position, said element being adapted to be moved upon contacting a surface to open saidv Port'. v

46. In 'a suction cleaner, suction-producing means,q a nozrle interiorly'connected'to. said means, a rotatable agitator in said nomle including a body having. an air eway therein connected thru said nomle to atmosphere, a port.

in said body connecting said air eway to' the interior of said nonle. a beater, element mounted for movement relative lto sa'id body' and adapted to be-thrown to an Outer'positionby centrifugal force in therotation'of said agitator, said element closing said portin its outer position, said element being adapted to contact a sur-f face covering undergoing cleaning andbe lmoved.

'w tnerebysreiative to said como open said poi-t;

7. In a suction cleaner. suction-producing means, a nozzlev interioriyconnected to 1d means' a mutable agitator in said nome includj ing a body having an air passageway therein conu, nected thru. said noule to atmosphere, Va port 1 insaid said .air c 'to .scid port.

'the 'interiorzof saidnonle, a elent i mounted for movement relative to said body and shaped to seat in andclose said port in one position, the relationship between said body and said element being such that said element is held in port-closing position by centrifugal force in the 5 rotation of said agitator, said element being adapted to contact a surface covering and be deilected thereby to open said port.

8. The construction denned by claim 7 charactes-ized by the fact that said beater element is 3 10 'a cylindrical member.

9. The construction deilned by claim 'I characterized by the fact that said beater element is a hollow cylinder 'and the further fact that movement-limiting means extend thereinto. 15

10. lIflie construction deiined by claim 'l' char- Vacterized by the fact that said beater element is a metal cyiindenprovided on its surfacev with a sound-deadening material.

11. The construction deilned by claim 'l char-A 20 acterized by the fact that said beater element is a metallic ball. .l 12. The construction defined by claim 7 charaacterized by the fact thatsaid beater element is a metallic bali and the further fact that surfaces 25 of said body with which said element contacts are protected by a sound-deadening material.

13. In a rotary agitator vfor a suction cleaner,

a rotatable body, a beater element, means pivotally mounting said element relative to said body 30 for movement in a path having an inward radial component with said element in its surface-contacting position, means limiting the outward lra dial movement o! said element, and resilient means opposing the pivotal movement of said .35

element under a force exerted by a surface covering undergoing cleaning. A

14. 'I'he construction recited in the preceding claim characterized-in that said means limiting the outward radial movement of said element in- 40 Y' cludes sound-deadening means to reduce the noise of operation.

15. Ina rotary agitator for suction cleaners. a rotatable body, and abeating element pivotally mounted on said body about an axis displaced cir- 45 cuinferentially, that is to one side of, a plane l through the axisof rotation of said body and the l point'of substantial covering contact of said element,-'said element being adaptedto'be de'ected about` its pivotal axis by contact with a surface 50 covering and being subjected tocentriiuga1 foi-ce to return it to its original podtion afterA such` contact. l"

16.In a suction cleaner, suction-producing n means, a'nonle Iinteriorly connected to said 55 means, a surface covering agitator movable in a path subjecting certain of its parts to centrifugal force, said agitator including-'a body having'an air eway therein connected through said g nomle to atmosphere, a port in said body connecting said air passageway to the interior of said nozzle, and valve means carried by said body and operableupon the movement of said agitator in contact with a surface covering to open and close Vis wrnmmnxrrro. 

